End fitting for freight retaining crossbar



Nov. 23, 1965 H. L. DUNLAP END FITTING FOR FREIGHT RETAINING CROSSBAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1962 Nov. 23, 1965 H. L. DUNLAP 3,218,992

END FITTING FOR FREIGHT RETAINING GROSSBAR Filed July 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I; .90 44 J57 \J J; 1 J if M M /Z IBM l 7 United States Patent 3,218,992 END FITTING FOR FREIGHT RETAINING CROSSBAR Henry L. Dunlap, deceased, late of Dearborn, Mich., by

Myrtle Estella Dunlap, special administratrix, Dearhorn, Mich, assignor to Evans Products Company, a

corporation of Delaware Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,437 4 Claims. (Cl. 105369) This invention relates to freight loading crossbars of the type used in railroad box cars, and more particularly to new and improved latch means associated therewith.

In order to brace cargo within railroad box cars, various types of freight bracing crossbars have been designed. In

eneral, the crossbars are provided with end fittings which are engageable with retaining means on the sides of the box car in a plurality of adjusted positions along the length of the box car to brace and secure cargo. The retaining means for securing the crossbars within the box car commonly take the form of longitudinally extending support brackets or the like which are provided with rows of parallel latching holes. The end fittings of the crossbars are provided with corresponding pin means which are adapted to be received within the holes and locked in position therein. Latch means are provided to secure the pins within the holes. The end fittings are subjected to maximum wear during loading and unloading of the box cars when the pins are being placed in and removed from the holes.

During the loading of the box cars, the freight is often positioned within the car in such a manner that the pins of the freight bracing crossbars will not be exactly aligned with any of the holes in the brackets on the side walls of the car. It is common practice for the workmen who load the box cars to utilize heavy hammers, or the like, to attempt to secure the slightly misaligned pins of the crossbars in place. When the pins and latching holes are slightly misaligned, a blow with a hammer may be sufficient to drive the pins into the holes. The misalignment problem may also exist during removal of freight from the box cars, since the freight often shifts position during transportation and consequently the pins of the crossbars are often wedged tightly into the latching holes. In order to remove the crossbars and unload the box cars, the workmen often must use crowbars or other lever means to pry the pins loose so that the crossbars can be removed. Consequently, the end fittings of the crossbars are subjected to extreme conditions of abuse and wear during loading and unloading operations.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved freight loading crossbar latching arrangement which is more sturdy and less subject to deterioration in use than previous latch designs. Another object of this invention is to provide improved latching means for freight bracing crossbars which are adapted to withstand hammer blows to which the bars will normally be subjected in use. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latching device having means to enable crowbars or the like to be used to release the latch means Without damage thereto. Still another object is to provide improved latch means having lever receiving means which direct the application of release forces exerted through lever devices and which prevent the use of levers to pry the bars loose on any portions of the latch means which would be damaged thereby.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention incorporates structures which allow the end fittings of a freight bracing crossbar to withstand, without failure, considerable amounts of abuse such as that generally inflicted by workmen Wielding hammers and 3,2183% Patented Nov. 23, 1965 pinchbars during loading and unloading operations wherein the freight bracing crossbars are mounted and removed from the freight cars. The end fitting is designed to withstand hammer blows by providing a special hammering surface thereon and by locating the more fragile latch parts which might be damaged within the confines of a protective covering so that they will not be subject to direct blows from a hammer or the like. In addition, the latching means are provided with a protective covering which prevents the insertion of a pinchbar or the like into the latch mechanism except through a specially provided opening. The pinchbar opening is located in a manner to insure that the pinchbar is engaged with the latching mechanism in an optimum position so that the forces exerted on the latch mechanism will not damage the end fitting.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent or become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a freight bracing crossbar embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the end fitting portion of the crossbar shown in FIGURE 1 taken in the direction of the arrow 2;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a freight bracing crossbar it of conventional design and an end fitting 12 are illustrated. The end fitting 12 comprises a shank portion 14 which is slidably received within a housing 16 provided in the end of the crossbar 10. The end fitting 12 is further provided with a latching head 18 having a plurality of downwardly depending pins 20, 22 which are mounted within corresponding apertures 23 provided in a bracket 24 secured to the side wall 26 of a freight car. It is to be understood that similar apparatus is provided at the other end of the crossbar 10. The aforesaid described apparatus is, in general, conventional and described in detail in US. Patent No. 2,837,039.

The latching head 18 is an enlarged integrally formed portion of the shank 14 and is provided with a central cavity 30 defined by an upper rim portion 32. The cavity 30 terminates in an opening 311. Pin seats 38, 39 are provided within the cavity 30 on inner side wall portions 40, 42. A lower rim portion 34 extends downwardly around the rear portion of the latching head. The inner rear surface 48 of the rim portion 34 is inclined to provide a spring seat and the upper surface 50 of the rim portion 32 is substantially fiat for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The pair of pin elements 29, 22 are integrally formed on the front wall of the end fittings and extend downwardly therefrom in a substantially vertical plane at substantially right angles to the surface 50. A flat abutment surface 52 is provided around the upper end of each of the pins and is adapted to be seated on the upper surface 54 of the bracket 24.

a A latch member, indicated generally at 60, is mounted Within the cavity 30 and extends through the opening 31. The latch member comprises a pair of pin extensions 62, 64 which are rotatably received on the pin seats 38, 39. A latch control arm 66 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the pins 62, 64 and has a substantially horizontal upper surface 68. An abutment projection 69 is provided beneath the arm 66 and extends downwardly and outwardly relative thereto. A pocket 70 is a provided between the arm 66 and the abutment 69. A spring well 71 is provided in the lower portion of the latch. A foot portion 72 extends downwardly below the pins 62, 64 and is provided with a surface 73 adapted to engage the rear surfaces of the pin elements 20, 22. A plate spring element 86 having reversely bent leg portions 82, 84 is secured at one end by a rivet 86 or the like within the spring well 70 to the latch member. The other end of the spring is adapted to be abuttingly received by the spring seat surface 48. Consequently, the latch is normally biased to the position shown in FIGURE 4 with the abutment surface 73 of the foot portion 72 extending outwardly into engagement with the pin elements 20, 22 to secure the end fitting in latching engagement with the bracket 24.

A latch retainer plate, indicated generally at 9%), is adapted to be secured to the latching head 18 and com prises a flat base 92 having a central opening 94. A rim 96 extends upwardly from the base 92 and defines an opening 98 at one side thereof. The portions 100, 102 of the rim 96 adjacent to the opening 98 are enlarged and have fiat upper surfaces of substantially triangular shape. The intermediate portions of the rim 96 are reduced in cross section and taper downwardly relative to the triangular portions 100, 102. The retainer plate 90 is adapted to be secured on the upper flat surface 59 of the latching head by welding or the like, as indicated at 1G6. In the assembled position, the top flat surfaces of the portions 100, 102 of the retainer plate are located above the top fiat surface 68 of the latch 64). Any hammer blows directed at the top of the fitting will be received directly by the flat surfaces 108, 102 of the latch retainer plate and transferred directly through to the latching head 18. Consequently, the latch means 60 receives none of the direct blow and will not be damaged thereby.

In order to release the latch means, under load or otherwise, a pinch bar or the like may be inserted through the opening 98 and into the pocket 70 defined by the lower surface of the arm 66 and the abutment projection 69. The abutment 69 terminates closely adjacent the fiat base 92 to prevent a pinch bar from being inserted down into the cavity 30 and prevents any damage being done to the spring mechanism 80. In addition, the rim 6 on the retainer plate further prevents the use of a pinch bar in any manner except by insertion through the side opening 98. When a pinch bar is inserted through the side opening 98, the forces exerted on the latch means 60 are essentially perpendicularly directed relative to the axis of rotation defined by the pins 62, 64 so that there is no tendency to twist the latch means within its cavity and to cause deterioration or breakage of the pins. The design of the retainer plate and latch means is such that the pinch bar will be guided into proper relationship with the latch means to obtain the desired directional application of force. Since the release forces are directed substantially at right angles to the axis of the pins 62, 64, the forces are transmitted equally to the pin seats 38, 39 and binding of the latch means is prevented.

It will be seen that an end fitting for a freight bracing crossbar has been provided which provides maximum protection to the latch and latch spring components. It is to be understood that certain modifications and changes in the arrangement of the parts are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims, except insofar as limited by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a freight bracing crossbar adapted to be mounted in a horizontal position in use and having an end fitting with vertically extending pin means and associated latch means, said pin means being insertable in retaining aperture means by substantially linear vertical movement and said latch means being pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane between a latched position and an unlatched position relative to said pin means, the invention comprising a hollow casting having a central cavity defined by vertically extending side walls, pivotal support means for said latch means supporting said latch means within said central cavity, actuating means for said latch means extending upwardly within said hollow casting, protecting and retaining means fixedly secured to said hollow casting and having portions located upwardly beyond the uppermost portion of said latch means and the actuating means therefor, upper portions of said protecting and retaining means being located to receive hammer blows directed onto said end fitting to associate said pin means with said retaining aperture means and to prevent the hammer from destructively contacting said latch means, and pry lever receiving and guiding means to receive a pry lever utilized to actuate said latch means and release said pin means from the retaining aperture means and guide the pry lever into engagement with only a selected portion of said actuating means for applying forces to said latch means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and having a spring cavity defined by said hollow casting and said latch means and said retaining means, spring means fastened to said latch means to bias said latch means to the latched position, said spring means being mounted in said spring cavity, and protecting guide flange means preventing inserting of the pry lever into said spring cavity from above.

3. An end fitting for a freight bracing crossbar adapted to be mounted in a horizontal position in use comprising: an integrally cast latching head having a central cavity and a horizontally extending shank portion, downwardly extending vertical pin means provided on said latching head for insertion by substantially vertical linear movement into corresponding apertures in a support bracket on a freight container or the like, pivot seat means located within an upper portion of the central cavity on inner side wall portions of the latching head, spring seat means located within a lower portion of the central cavity on inner side wall portions of the latching head; an integrally cast latch member pivotally mounted within the central cavity for pivotal movement in a vertical plane between a latched position and an unlatched position, a pair of horizontally extending pivot members loosely rotatably seated on the pivot seat means, a latch control arm extending upwardly from said pivot members toward said shank portion away from said pin means, an abutment located in spaced relationship below said latch control arm and extending downwardly relative thereto to define a pry lever pocket, a foot portion of the latch member extending downwardly and being cooperative with the pin means in the latched position, a plate type spring element having downwardly extending reversely bent leg portions secured at one end to said latch member within said central cavity, the other end of said spring element being abuttingly engaged with said spring seat means to bias said latch member toward the latched position; a latch retainer plate having a central opening and being fixedly secured to the top of the latching head in abutting surface to surface engagement, pry lever insertion guide means located at one side of said latch retainer plate opposite and in alignment with said pry lever pocket, portions of said latch retainer plate extending inwardly over said central cavity of said latching head beyond said pivot members to loosely retain said latch member in the central cavity of said latching head, other portions of said latch retainer plate extending inwardly over said central cavity toward said abutment on said latch member and preventing insertion of a pry lever into any location except said pocket in proper relationship with said latch member to obtain transmission of forces essentially perpendicularly directed relative to the axis of rotation of said latch member defined by said pivot members, portions of the top of the latch retainer plate providing enlarged flat hammering surfaces for receiving hammer blows during association of said pin means with the corresponding apertures, and said hammering surfaces being located in spaced relationship above said latch member so that hammer blows directed at the top of the end fitting are received by the hammering surfaces and transferred directly to the latching head and the associated pin means Without direct engagement of the hammer with the latch member.

4. An end fitting for a freight bracing crossbar adapted to be mounted in a horizontal position in use comprising: latching head means having a central cavity and a horizontally extending shank portion, downwardly extending vertical pin means provided on said latching head means for insertion by substantially vertical linear movement into corresponding aperture means in a support bracket on a freight container or the like, pivot seat means located within the central cavity on portions of the latching head means, spring receiving means located within the central cavity on portions of the latching head means; latch means pivotally mounted within the central cavity for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a latched position and an unlatched position relative to said pin means, horizontally extending pivot means rotatably supporting said latch means on the pivot seat means, latch control arm means extending outwardly away from said pivot means, a pry lever pocket defined by abutment means located in spaced relationship to said latch control arm means, spring means operatively associated at one end with said latch means within said central cavity, the other end of said spring means being abuttingly engaged with said spring receiving means to bias said latch means toward the latched position; horizontally extending plate means forming upper surfaces of said latching head, a pry lever insertion opening provided in said latching head means in alignment with said pry lever pocket, portions of said plate means ex tending inwardly over said central cavity of said latching head means beyond said pivot members and over said latch means and preventing insertion of a pry lever into any location except said pocket through said pry lever insertion opening in proper relationship with said latch means to obtain transmission of forces essentially perpendicularly directed relative to the axis of rotation of said latch means, portions of the top of the plate means providing enlarged flat hammering surfaces for receiving hammer blows during association of said pin means with the corresponding aperture means, and said hammering surfaces being located in spaced relationship above said latch means so that hammer blows directed at the top of the end fitting are received by the hammering surfaces and transferred directly to the latch head means without direct engagement of the hammer with the latch means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,950 7/1938 Reifer -369 2,261,557 11/1941 Matthews 292256.5 2,583,053 1/1952 Kestner et al. 292256.5 2,769,404 11/1956 Dietrichson 105369 2,919,662 1/1960 Tobin 105369 2,982,230 5/1961 Chapman 105369' 2,983,231 5/1961 Hendrickson 105-369 3,066,620 12/1962 Schroeder 105-369 3,071,085 1/1963 Dunlap 105369 MILTON BUCH'LER, Primary Examiner.

LEO QUACKENB-USH, Examiner. 

1. IN A FREIGHT BRACING CROSSBAR ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION IN USE AND HAVING AN END FITTING WITH VERTICALLY EXTENDING PIN MEANS AND ASSOCIATED LATCH MEANS, SAID PIN MEANS BEING INSERTABLE IN RETAINING APERTURE MEANS BY SUBSTANTIALLY LINEAR VERTICAL MOVEMENT AND SAID LATCH MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS IN A VERTICAL PLANE BETWEEN A LATCHED POSITION AND AN UNLATCHED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID PIN MEANS, THE INVENTION COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASTING HAVING A CENTRAL CAVITY DEFINED BY VERTICALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS, PIVOTAL SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID LATCH MEANS SUPPORTING SAID LATCH MEANS WITHIN SAID CENTRAL CAVITY, ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID LATCH MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITHIN SAID HOLLOW CASTING, PROTECTING SAID RETAINING MEANS FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID HOLLOW CASTING AND HAVING PORTIONS LOCATED UPWARDLY BEYOND THE UPPERMOST PORTION OF SAID LATCH MEANS AND THE ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR, UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID PROTECTING AND RETAINING MEANS BEING LOCATED TO RECEIVE HAMMER BLOWS DIRECTED ONTO SAID END FITTING TO ASSOCIATE SAID PIN MEANS WITH SAID 